Popular antipsychotic Invega (paliperidone) has been allegedly causing young male patients to develop gynecomastia, or male breast growth.

While there are other severe Invega side effects of which patients should be aware, the development of man boobs is definitely one of the most prominent.

Invega is typically prescribed to treat extreme psychotic conditions like schizophrenia, and can be used off label for treatment of Tourette’s syndrome as well as different behavior disorders.

Developed and manufactured by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, it was approved by the FDA in December 2006.

Invega is similar to its predecessor Risperdal (risperidone), which is another popular antipyschotic allegedly causing gynecomastia in patients. It also employs the same psychological treatment effects as Risperdal by leveling the brain’s dopamine levels.

Invega is actually the metabolite of Risperdal, which means it is the chemical ingredient after the liver breaks down the drug into its active components. Essentially Invega works the same as Risperdal, but is metabolized differently.

However the serious Invega side effects patients are reporting are also similar to Risperdal, as young male patients reportedly developed gynecomastia.

Overview of Invega Side Effects

This medication is not approved for children under the age of 18, as severe Invega side effects have been reported.

The most infamous is a condition called hyperprolactinemia, which is the significant increase in prolactin production. This hormone is primarily responsible for breast growth in adolescent girls, and is naturally manufactured in small amounts in young boys.

However when Invega signals the body to make significantly more prolactin in young male patients, it can result in male breast growth.

The severity varies between cases with some breasts reportedly growing as large as D cup. Some patients even experience nipple discharge.

The effects of man boobs can be devastating for a child or young man, as the physical deformity can often lead to being socially ostracized and psychological trauma. Oftentimes surgery is often needed to remove the excess tissue, with the recovery time differing depending on how much tissue needs to be removed.

Even though the severity of Invega side effects has caused massive concern, Janssen Pharmaceuticals allegedly chose to omit this information for the drug’s warning label. In fact, Janssen Pharmaceuticals  allegedly advertised Invega as a safe and effective treatment for pediatric patients.

One Nov. 04, 2013, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $2.2 billion to settle criminal charges with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly illegally marketing these drugs for children and not disclosing the severe Risperdal and Invega side effects.

However many patients were still affected by Invega side effects by developing gynecomastia and even type-2 diabetes in some cases.

Patients who were affected by Risperdal or Invega side effects may be able file legal action against Johnson & Johnson, and should contact a specialized lawyer to determine eligibility.